Evacuator for dental use



Dec. 16, 1958 2,864,166

J. S. SHAW EVACUATOR FOR DENTAL USE Filed May 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig./ 2 4 Fig.2 88 l as John 5. Show 48 IN VEN TOR.

Q 80 ,2, BY m 76 WWW Z5. M0517 EVACUATOR FOR DENTAL USE John S. Shaw,Concord, Caiif, 'assignor to Torit Manufacturing Company, St. Paul,Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application May 18, 1955, Serial No.509,285

Claims. (or. 32-33 This invention relates in general to new and usefulimprovements in dental equipment, and more specifically to an improvedVacuum attachment for dental equipment.

In a dental operative procedure, it is highly desirable to retain apatients mouth clean at all times by the removing of blood and bone andtooth fragments not only for the patients convenience, but also in orderthat the dentist may readily ascertain the progress being made duringthe operative procedure at all times.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a vacuumattachment for dental equipment which will facilitate the removal ofblood and foreign matter from a patients mouth during a dental operativeprocedure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method ofretaining clean a patients mouth during a dental operative procedure,the method including the steps of spraying that part of a patients mouthbeing treated with a cleansing liquid, preferably water, to retain theimmediate area being treated clean, and the step of removing from thepatients mouth the cleansing liquid and the foreign matter, such asblood and bone and tooth fragments.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved vacuumattachment for dental equipment which includes a cabinet having apleasing appearance, there being mounted in the cabinet a vacuumproducing mechanism for producing in a vacuum line a desired vacuum, andalso for removing from such vacuum line excess moisture and foreignmatter, the cabinet being portable to facilitate desired positioningthereof, and the mechanism. thereof being connectable to a conventionalvelectrical outlet in order to facilitate operation of the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide an atent improvedaccessory for dental equipment, the accessory including a water supplytube having a spray pipe for the spraying of water to that part of apatients mouth being treated for the purpose of cleaning the same, therebeing provided means on the spray pipe for attachment to a dental handpiece, the equipment also including a vacuum head intended to be placedin a patients mouth for removing the cleaning water and foreign matter,there being connected to the vacuum head vacuum producing means.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of the aspirator and shows thearrangement of air screens formed in the rear wall thereof;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the aspirator of Figure 1 andshows the arrangement of a control switch and entrance door, also beingillustrated are the connections, both electrical and vacuum, of thc spirice Figure 3 is a top plan view of the aspirator with a portion of thecabinet thereof broken away and shown in section in order to clearlyillustrate the details of the wall construction thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through thecabinet substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 44 ofFigure 2 and shows the details of the cabinet construction and themanner in which the vacuum producing means of the aspirator is mountedtherein, the vacuum producing means having portions thereof broken awayand shown in section in order to clearly illustrate the details thereof;and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in whichthe present invention operates in conjunction with a dental hand pieceduring a dental operative procedure.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seenthat there is illustrated an improved evacuator, which is a primary partof the present invention, the evacuator being referred to in general bythe reference numeral it). The evacuator 10 includes a cabinet which isreferred to in general by the reference numeral 12. The cabinet 12includes a rear wall 14, a front wall 16, and side walls 13 and 29, theWalls 14, 16 and 18 being connected together in rectangular arrangement.The cabinet 12 also includes a removable top wall 24 and a recessedbottom wall 26. All of the walls of the cabinet 12 are insulated toreduce the noise of the machinery disposed therein.

Disposed within the cabinet 12 intermediate the bottom wall 26 and thetop wall 24 is a partition wall 26. The partition'wall 28 is providedwith a central opening 30. Mounted on the partition wall 28 andextending downwardly through the opening 319 therein is a housing 32.The housing 32 has mounted therein an electric motor 34. Connected tothe electric motor 34 and driven thereby is a vacuum producing mechanismin the form of a plurality of blades 36. The blades 36 are disposedwithin a closely confining chamber 38 mounted within the housing 32.

Removably secured to the lower part of the housing 32 by a plurality ofclips 40 is a collector pan 42. The collector pan 42 communicates withthe housing 32 and is provided with an upwardly projecting inlet fitting44. Connected to the fitting 44 and communicating with the interior ofthe collector pan 42 is a vacuum pipe 4-6. The vacuum pipe 46 extendsthrough the side wall 20 and is connected thereto by a fitting 48. It isintended that air carrying moisture and foreign matter will enter intothe vacuum pipe 46 and down into the collector pan 42. This air willthen be drawn up into the compartment 38 by the effect of the blades 36.Connected to the motor 34 below the blades 36 and in alignment with anentrance opening (not shown) in the bottom of the compartment 33 is acentrifuge 50. The centrifuge 5i removes all moisture and foreign matterfrom the incoming air and deposits the same in the bottom of thecollector pan 42. Such combined moisture and foreign matter is referredto by the reference numeral 52 in Figure 4. In order that this moistureand foreign matter 52 may be periodically removed from the collector pan.2 without removing the collector pan, there is provided on the bottomof the collector pan 42 a suitable drain valve 54.

The housing 32 is provided at the upper end thereof with an exhaustopening 56 which exhausts into the upper part of the cabinet 12. Inorder that this exhaust air may pass out of the cabinet 12, there isprovided in the upper part of the rear wall 14 an air escape opening 58.The air escape opening 58 is provided w ith a suitable filter 60.Further, secured to the inner Side opening 58 is a baflle system 62.

Inasmuch as the lower part of the cabinet 12 is substantially sealedwith respect to the upper partthereof, it is desired that there beprovided suitable ventilation for the lower part of the cabinet 12. Thisis accomplished by providing a ventilating opening-64 in the lower partof the rear wall 14. A filter 66 is disposed in the opening 64. Also,access to the lower part of the cabinet 12 to permit the draining of thecollector pan 42 is provided by means of a door 68 seated in an accessopen-- ing 70 formed in the front wall 16.

The motor 34 is connected to a switch mechanism 72 carried by thehousing 32 by means of a conductor 74. The switch mechanism 72 isnormally in an on position, and has connected thereto an externallydisposed conductor 76. The conductor 76 is in turn connected to a toggleswitch 78 carried by the upper part of the front wall 16. The toggleswitch 78 is turned on and off as is deemed necessary. Connected to theswitch 78 is a leadin conductor 80 which passes out through the sidewall 18 and is provided at its opposite end with a plug 82 which may beplugged into a conventional electrical outlet (not shown).

In order that the evacuator 10 may be portable and positioned asdesired, the cabinet 12 is made portable by providing suitable casters84. The casters 84 are secured to the underside of the bottom wall 26and are substantially obscured by the walls 14, 16, 18 and 20.

Connected to the free end of the vacuum pipe 46 is a flexible vacuumtube 86. The vacuum tube 86 terminates in a mouth piece 88 which may beconveniently positioned in a patients mouth, as is best illustrated inFigure 5. When the mouth piece 88 is not in use, the vacuum tube 86 maybe conveniently hung on the cabinet 12 by means of a hook mechanism 90carried by the side wall 20.

The evacuator 10 will operate to remove blood and other foreign matter,such as bone and tooth fragments, from a patients mouth. However, it ishighly desirable that there be provided a suitable cleaning fluid forthe purpose of cleaning that part of the patients mouth being treated.In order to accomplish this, there is provided a water supply line 92.The water supply line 92 will be provided with a suitable valvemechanism (not shown) which may be operated either by the patient, or anattending nurse, as desired. Connected to the water supply line 92 is aspray head or pipe 94. Carried by the spray head 94 are suitable clamps96 for attachment to a dental hand piece 93. Further, the spray head 94is bent, as at 160, to direct spray Water onto a tooth being drilled inalignment with a head of a dental burr 102.

From the foregoing description of the dental equipment, it will bereadily apparent that by simultaneously operating the spray head 94 andutilizing the mouth piece 88, that portion of a patients mouth beingtreated may be cleaned and the cleaning liquid and other foreign mattermay be continuously removed from the patients mouth for both the benefitof the attending dentist and the comfort of the patient.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

'1. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operativeprocedure, said evacuator comprising a cabinet, a horizontal partitionwall in said cabinet, a housing mounted on said partition and projectingdownwardly therethrough, anair inlet on one side of said partition andan air outlet on the other side thereof, a motor til) mounted in saidhousing, a vacuum producing mechanism mounted in said housing, acollector pan carried by said housing in communication with said vacuumproducing mechanism, a vacuum line connected to and communicating withsaid collector pan, a mouth piece on the end of said vacuum line remotefrom said collector pan, means in said collector pan and connected tosaid motor for removing moisture and foreign matter from air passinginto said housing from said collector pan, and a drain on said collectorpan.

2. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operativeprocedure, said evacuator comprising a cabinet, a horizontal partitionwall in said cabinet, a housing mounted on said partition and projectingdownwardly therethrough, a motor mounted in said housing, a vacuumproducing mechanism mounted in said housing, an air inlet one one sideof said partition and an air outlet on the other side thereof, acollector pan carried by said housing in communication with said vacuumproducing mechanism, a vacuum line connected to and communicating withsaid collector pan, a mouth piece on the end of said vacuum line remotefrom said collector pan, means in said collector pan and connected tosaid motor for removing moisture and foreign matter from air passinginto said housing from said collector pan, and a drain on said collectorpan, an access door on a lower part of said cabinet providing access tosaid collector pan and said drain.

3. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operativeprocedure, said evacuator comprising a cabinet, a horizontal partitionwall in said cabinet, a housing mounted on said partition'and projectingdownwardly therethrough, a motor mounted in said housing, a vacuumproducing mechanism mounted in said housing, a collector pan carried bysaid housing in communication with said vacuum producing mechanism, avacuum line connected to and communicating with said collector pan, a

mouth piece on the end of said vacuum line remote from said collectorpan, means in said collector pan and connected to said motor forremoving moisture and foreign matter from air passing into said housingfrom said collector pan, and a drain on said collector pan, said cabinetbeing insulated, an air escape opening in an upper part of said cabinetpermitting escape of exhaust air from said cabinet, a filter over saidair escape opening.

4. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operativeprocedure, said evacuator comprising a cabinet, a partition wall in saidcabinet, a housing mounted on said partition and projectingtherethrough, a motor mounted in said housing, a vacuum producingmechanism mounted in said housing, a collector pan carried by saidhousing in communication with said vacuum producing mechanism, a vacuumline connected to and communicating with said collector pan, a mouthpiece on the end of said vacuum line remote from said collector pan,means in said collector pan and connected to said motor for removingmoisture and foreign matter from air passing into said housing from saidcollector pan, and a drain on said collector pan, an air escape on oneside of said partition in said cabinet permitting the escape of exhaustair from said cabinet, and a filter over said air escape opening.

5. An evacuator for use in conjunction with a dental operativeprocedure, said evacuator including a cabinet, a partition wall in saidcabinet, a housing mounted on said partition wall and forming acommunication between opposite sides of said partition wall, a vacuumproducing mechanism mounted in said housing, a motor connected to saidvacuum producing mechanism for actuating the same, a collector pan incommunication with said housing within said cabinet, a vacuum lineconnected to and communicating with said collector pan, a mouth piece onthe end of said vacuum line remote from said collector pan, means insaid collector pan and connected to said motorc for removing moistureand foreign mattcr jrom air passing into said housing trom saidcollector pan, and FOREIGN PATENTS a removable portion in said housingproviding access to 258 134 Switzerland Apr- 16 1949 said collector pan,and an air escape on one side of said n partition permitting the escapeof exhaust air from said OTHER REFERENCES cabinet. 5 Sorensen Folder(reprinted from Catalog of Sorensen Co., 444 Jackson Ave., Long IslandCity, New York),

References Cited in the file of this patent Item; 25.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,511,973 De La Sierra June 20, 1950 10

